Down and Dirty

Today I went to an Organic Gardening Workshop- something I have been eagerly anticipating since I heard about it several months ago. As I was getting ready to go, M interrogated me about where I was going, what I’d be doing, and- most importantly- why she wasn’t coming along with me. After informing her that it was going to be a workshop, where there might be a lot of talking and sitting around, she asked what the talking was going to be about. I paused, knowing this was a losing battle.
Me: Um, gardening.
M: Gardening??!! You know I want to garden, too! Please, please, please, can I come with you? I really really want to learn about gardening, too, so I can help you in our garden!
How could I argue with that? (or with the big, pleading doe eyes she fluttered up at me!)

So off we went, ready to fill our minds with information and spend our Saturday morning/afternoon getting a little dirty! The first couple hours were mainly talking, learning more about the reasons to grow/eat organic, how to do it, what to use, etc. Then we were served a delectable, fresh lunch made with food right out of the garden-beans, snap peas, peppers, greens, sprouts, tomatoes, mmmmmm! So fresh, you could taste the sunshine!! Then, the moment M had been waiting for: time in the garden! We actually got to prep/dig up a raised garden bed and plant the seeds. We were amidst a group of about a dozen people, and my little M was right there next to the workshop leader, Joy, following her around and offering help every step of the way! She wanted to get her hands dirty and take part in making this garden ‘come to life’! I was truly proud of her ambitious determination and excitement. I stood back and snapped a few pictures, knowing without a doubt that we must have our own garden! What an incomparable form of education!! M was learning by doing, in the truest sense of the word- and she was loving it! We moved from the garden bed to the container gardens, and M jumped right in again, planting a tomato plant surrounded by lettuce. She insisted that we bring home ‘her’ plant, of course! Some of the other folks there at the workshop were quite amused by this little miniature gardener. One asked me, "Is she always this focused and careful? Look how intently she does everything!" Yes, this Mama was a little proud, to say the least. I know I would have enjoyed the workshop if I'd gone by myself (well, with C, of course), but am I sure glad I brought M with me- how much I enjoyed watching her have this experience and find a new little passion of her own!
I took away an immense amount of information from the workshop, but most of all the desire to give my children the gift of cultivating and nurturing a garden together in our yard. Before today’s workshop, I had the desire but not a great deal of ‘know how’, and it seemed a bit daunting. But now, I’d love to run outside and start digging and planting without hesitation! But like everything, some planning ahead will benefit us, and we need to confer with Papa about the whereabouts of this endeavor in our yard. Until then (though, hopefully not too long!), we will be tending to our baby tomato and lettuce container plants, psyching ourselves up to move on to ‘bigger and better things’ outside!